土壤紧实胁迫对黄瓜根系生长及氮代谢的影响

用容重分别为1.25 g·cm-3(疏松土壤,对照)和1.55 g·cm-3(紧实土壤)的土壤进行盆栽试验,研究了土壤紧实胁迫对‘津春4号’黄瓜不同生育期根系生长、呼吸速率、活力及氮代谢的影响.结果表明:在土壤紧实胁迫条件下,黄瓜不同生育期根系总长度、表面积、分根数和根尖数均显著下降,根系的伸长生长及侧根的发生受到显著抑制,而根系的加粗生长得到激发,平均直径显著增加;根系活力和根系呼吸速率显著下降;根系中的NO3-、游离氨基酸和可溶性蛋白含量大幅下降,硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸合酶活性显著降低,NH4+含量显著增加.说明在土壤紧实胁迫条件下黄瓜根系对硝态氮的吸收量减少,氨同化作用受到抑制,氮代谢显著受阻.     

氮磷肥配施对苦荞根系生理生态及产量的影响

以苦荞品种‘迪庆’为材料,在盆栽试验条件下,研究了氮(纯氮用量分别为0g/kg、0.1g/kg、0.2g/kg)、磷(P2O5用量分别为0.1g/kg和0.2g/kg)配施对苦荞根系生长、生理指标及其产量的影响,旨在为黄土高原苦荞高产优质栽培提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)在相同施磷量条件下,苦荞幼苗的株高、茎粗、茎叶干重、主根长、根表面积、根系体积、根系直径、根系干重以及壮苗指数等均随施氮量的增加而呈先升后降的趋势,但根冠比随施氮量的增加而呈先降后升的趋势;叶片叶绿素含量以及根系活力、酸性磷酸酶(Apase)活性、可溶性蛋白含量和植株氮积累量随施氮量的增加呈抛物线变化趋势,根系硝酸还原酶(NR)活性和植株氮含量随施氮量的增加而增加;而根系可溶性糖含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量和游离脯氨酸含量等指标均随施氮量的增加而呈先降后升的趋势,0.1g/kg施氮处理各指标均显著低于其他处理;成熟期单株粒重、百粒重随施氮量的增加呈先升后降的趋势,0.1g/kg施氮处理各指标均显著高于其他处理。(2)在相同施氮量条件下,随着施磷量的增加,苦荞根系酸性磷酸酶(Apase)活性、SOD活性、POD活性、MDA含量、可溶性糖含量、可溶性蛋白以及游离脯氨酸含量等指标均降低,其余各指标则呈增加趋势。(3)无论施磷量条件如何,0.1g/kg的施氮处理下苦荞产量最高,与其他施氮处理相比,在低磷和高磷处理下的增产幅度分别为7.04%~37.40%和14.73%~68.26%;在施氮量一定的情况下,高磷处理比低磷处理增产15.96%~42.00%。(4)在该试验条件下,适当的氮磷肥配施表现出了明显的正加和效应,但过量施肥也有可能导致增产幅度下降,中氮高磷(施纯N量0.1g/kg,施P2O5量0.2g/kg)配施效果最优。     

氮素对花铃期干旱再复水后棉花根系生长的影响

于2005~2006年在江苏南京农业大学卫岗试验站进行盆栽试验, 设置正常灌水(土壤含水量为田间持水量的75%左右)和棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)花铃期土壤短期干旱处理(将正常灌水的棉花自然干旱持续8 d, 以棉株出现萎蔫症状为标准, 之后复水至正常灌水水平), 每个处理再设置3个氮素水平(0、3.73、7.46 g N·pot^-1, 分别相当于0、240、480 kg N·hm^-2), 研究氮素对花铃期干旱及复水后棉花根系生长的影响。结果表明, 花铃期干旱条件下, 土壤相对含水量迅速减少, 并随氮素水平的提高而降低。在干旱处理结束时, 与正常灌水处理相比, 干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量显著降低, 但干物质根冠比(R/S)与氮素累积量根冠比(R_N/S_N)增大; 根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性明显升高, 而过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性降低, 同时, 丙二醛(MDA)含量相应增大。花铃期短期干旱亦显著降低棉花根系活力与叶片净光合速率。施氮可提高干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量, 降低SOD活性, 增强POD与CAT活性, 但以240 kg N·hm^-2水平最有利于根系生长, 其内在生理机制表现为R/S与R_N/S_N最小, 膜脂过氧化程度最低, 而根系活力最强, 其叶片的净光合速率亦最高。复水后, 干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量显著高于正常灌水处理; 内源保护酶活性相应变化, 其根系MDA含量与正常灌水处理已无显著差异; 根系活力显著高于正常灌水处理。施氮有助于增加复水后棉花根重与氮素累积量, 提高POD与CAT活性, 降低膜脂过氧化程度, 增强棉花根系活力, 从而提高叶片净光合速率。综合分析认为, 过量施氮或施氮不足均不利于棉花根系生长, 两年的试验结果表明, 在本试验设置的3个氮素水平中, 花铃期干旱胁迫下以240 kg N·hm^-2, 且基施50%, 初花期追施50%较适宜。     

氮肥处理对氮素高效吸收水稻根系性状及氮肥利用率的影响

2011—2012年在土培条件下,以氮素吸收效率差异较大的15个常规籼稻为供试材料,研究氮肥运筹对不同氮效率品种根系性状、成熟期吸氮量及氮肥利用率的影响,分析影响氮高效水稻氮素吸收的主要根系性状。结果表明:(1)各氮肥处理下,成熟期吸氮量均表现为氮高效品种氮中效品种氮低效品种。适量增施氮肥及基肥+促花肥处理有利于氮高效品种吸氮量的增加,氮素吸收受品种、氮肥处理的显著影响。(2)在施氮量处理下,氮高效品种单株不定根数、单株根干重、单株不定根总长大或较大,单株根活力在常氮(N2)、高氮(N3)处理下有一定的优势;在施氮时期处理下,氮高效品种单株不定根数、单株不定根总长、单株根干重、单株根系总吸收面积、单株根系活跃吸收面积、抽穗期冠根比多数处理有优势;增施氮肥有利于促进氮高效品种单株不定根总长和单株根活力的提高,适量施氮有利于单株不定根数、单株根干重增加,前期施氮可促进不定根的发生和伸长,后期施氮有利于不定根的充实和根系生理性状的提高。此外,增施氮肥可提高各类品种冠根比;(3)在常氮、高氮处理下,氮高效品种氮肥利用率大于氮中效、氮低效品种。(4)提高单株不定根数、单株不定根总长、单株根活力及抽穗期冠根比有利于各类品种吸氮量的提高,增加根干重对氮高效品种吸氮量的提高也有显著的促进作用。结合相关分析与通径分析结果,抽穗期冠根比及单株不定根数、单株根活力、单株不定根总长、单株根干重是影响氮高效品种吸氮能力的主要根系性状。     

丛枝菌根真菌调控根系构型与矿质元素平衡提高西瓜植株耐盐性的研究

丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM）真菌可通过多种途径或机制来增强植物的耐盐性,进而促进植株的生长发育。本研究在盆栽条件下设西瓜Citrullus lanatus品种‘京欣四号’幼苗接种变形球囊霉Glomus versiforme和不接种以及施加和不施加100mmol/L NaCl共4个处理,测定植株根系菌根侵染状况、根系构型及其根茎叶中钾（K）、钙（Ca）、磷（P）、钠（Na）含量、K⁺/Na⁺、Ca²⁺/Na和植株生长状况等。AM真菌显著增加了盐胁迫下西瓜植株总根长度、根表面积、根体积和根尖数量,改善了根系构型;促进了西瓜根系对K、Ca和P的吸收,提高了茎Ca和P含量、根系K和P含量、K⁺/Na⁺和Ca²⁺/Na⁺,而降低了根Na⁺含量;茎P和Na⁺、叶K和Ca的含量显著高于其他器官相应含量。典范对应分析表明,根系K含量、K⁺/Na⁺和Ca²⁺/Na⁺与总根长度、主根长度、根表面积、根体积、根尖数量、根平均直径呈正相关;叶K⁺/Na⁺与主根长度呈正相关;根系Na⁺含量与根系总根长、根平均直径和根尖数量呈负相关。接种AM真菌改善了矿质元素平衡及其分配状况。盐胁迫后西瓜植株对菌根的依赖性增强。结果表明,K、Ca、P是AM真菌介导植物耐盐性的关键养分;K⁺/Na⁺和Ca²⁺/Na⁺是重要的矿质元素平衡指标,接种AM真菌能调控植物根系构型和矿质元素平衡状况,从而缓解盐胁迫对西瓜生长的抑制作用,提高植株的耐盐性。     

施氮对干旱胁迫下毛竹幼苗生物量和根系形态的影响

为探讨氮素添加对水分胁迫下毛竹幼苗地上生物量及地下根系形态的调控作用,选取1年生毛竹实生苗为材料,采用水分和施氮双因素完全随机区组设计,以田间持水量的80%～85%作为水分对照(CK)、50%～55%为中度干旱(MD)、30%～35%为重度干旱(HD)设置3个水分水平,氮处理分未施氮(N0,0 mg N·kg^-1)和施氮(N1,100 mg N·kg^-1)2个水平,通过盆栽试验,测定毛竹实生苗根系形态特征及各器官生物量。结果显示：施氮显著增加了同一水分下毛竹幼苗叶、根及整株生物量,其中,N1MD和N1HD分别较N0MD和N0HD地上生物量增加15.6%、11.9%,总生物量分别增加36.7%、25.0%(P<0.05);施氮降低了相同水分处理下毛竹的比根长、茎叶比,显著促进了中度和重度干旱下根冠比的增加(P<0.05);水分胁迫下,除根生物量比显著增加外,茎、叶生物量比均随氮素添加呈减小的趋势;施氮对毛竹幼苗根系形态特征(根长、根表面积、根体积)具有不同程度的促进作用;施氮对中度干旱下毛竹幼苗干物质积累的缓解作用比重度干旱大,但在...     

施氮及不同根系分隔模式对尾叶桉和降香黄檀幼苗生长及叶片生理特性的影响

豆科与非豆科树种混交作为一种人工林培育可持续发展模式,在保证木材产量和维持氮素平衡中发挥了重要作用。该研究通过大棚盆栽试验,设计3个施氮水平(0、3、6g·株-1)及3种根系分隔方式(不隔、网隔、膜隔),分析了不同氮素水平及根系分隔模式对尾叶桉(Eucalyptus urophylla)与降香黄檀(Dalbergia odorifera)植株幼苗生长、叶片生理特性、根系形态及生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)随施氮量的增加,尾叶桉与降香黄檀的苗高、地径均呈递增趋势;不同根系分隔模式下,尾叶桉苗高、地径均在不隔模式下生长最好,降香黄檀则在膜隔模式下生长最好。(2)与不施氮处理相比,施氮3、6g·株-1水平下尾叶桉与降香黄檀叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性及可溶性蛋白含量均显著升高,而丙二醛(MDA)含量则呈降低趋势。(3)尾叶桉与降香黄檀根系的总长度、总表面积、总体积、平均直径、根尖数和比根长均随氮素水平的增加而增加,且各氮素水平间的差异显著;同一氮素水平下,尾叶桉的根系生长总体表现为不隔网隔膜隔,而降香黄檀根系生长则表现为膜隔不隔网隔,且两树种不同分隔模式间差异显著。(4)尾叶桉与降香黄檀各器官生物量及总生物量均随施氮量的增加而增加,并在6g·株-1施氮水平下生物量最大;各器官生物量分配中,尾叶桉各器官生物量所占比例大小依次为:茎(40.59%)叶(32.37%)根(27.04%),降香黄檀各器官生物量所占比例大小依次为:根(47.67%)茎(40.08%)叶(12.25%)。研究表明,尾叶桉与降香黄檀混交一定程度上扩展了根系横向和纵向水平的养分生态位,扩大了根系吸收土壤养分的空间,同时根系互作提高了降香黄檀的固氮能力,对土壤有效氮的产生有较大影响。     

盐碱胁迫对海岛棉幼苗生物量分配和根系形态的影响

为探求海岛棉幼苗生物量分配和根系生长对混合盐碱胁迫的响应,探索海岛棉幼苗对混合盐碱胁迫的适应特点,以新疆阿克苏地区主栽海岛棉品种新海31号(XH31)、新海35号(XH35)、新海43号(XH43)及新海48号(XH48)为试材,采用NaCl、Na_2SO_4和NaCl、NaHCO_3以物质的量1∶1混合分别模拟中性盐混合盐(中性盐)和碱性盐混合盐(碱性盐)2种盐类型,总盐浓度(Na~+)0(CK)、120、180、240、300、360 mmol/L,对2种盐胁迫下不同浓度海岛棉幼苗生物量、根系长度、根系体积以及根系表面积等海岛棉幼苗根系形态特征指标变化差异以及不同茎级的根系形态特征进行了分析。结果表明,中性盐下,盐浓度在0—180 mmol/L时,对海岛棉幼苗的根系总长度、总表面积、总体积、总根尖数有显著的促进的作用或不显著的抑制作用,尤其盐浓度为120 mmol/L对海岛棉幼苗细根(0d0.5 mm)的长度有显著的促进作用;大于180 mmol/L后,随着盐浓度的增加各项根系参数均显著减小;碱性盐下,除新海31号的总根尖数、细根及中根根尖数在120 mmol/L的盐浓度下比CK增加,其余处理均随着盐浓度的增加再减小;地上部生物量、根系生物量及根冠比在两种盐下随着盐浓度的增加逐渐减小,减小程度也由小变大。低盐(120 mmol/L)环境能促进细根的伸长,使海岛棉幼苗可以更加多的吸收养分和水分,这是根系接触低盐环境时做出的响应,高盐环境对海岛棉幼苗造成较大的损伤。     

地下水位对黄河三角洲柽柳根系生长的影响

为揭示黄河三角洲柽柳根系生长特征对地下水位的响应规律,明确柽柳生长适宜的地下水位,在咸水矿化度（6 g/L）下,模拟设置0、0.3、0.6、0.9、1.2、1.5、1.8 m共7个地下水位。测定分析栽植柽柳土柱的水盐参数与根系生长指标。结果表明：在咸水矿化度下,地下水位可显著影响土壤水盐变化,从而影响柽柳根系的生长。随地下水位的降低,土壤含水量、含盐量和土壤溶液绝对浓度显著降低。在高水位（≤0.6 m）下,柽柳根系生长受水盐胁迫影响显著,柽柳根长、根径、侧根数、总生物量、侧根生物量、根系连接长度均较低,拓扑结构呈叉状分支;中水位（0.9 m）时,土壤水盐条件适宜,柽柳侧根数、根径、二级侧根和毛细根生物量达到最大值,拓扑结构由叉状分支向鱼尾形分支过渡;低水位（≥1.2 m）下,土壤水盐含量低,柽柳根系总生物量、主根生物量、一级侧根生物量和根系平均连接长度在1.2 m水位达到最大值后降低,拓扑结构呈鱼尾形分支。柽柳根系生长与地下水位密切相关,柽柳通过改变根系生长和调整构型来适应不同土壤水盐和地下水位条件。高水位（≤0.6 m）下柽柳以降低根系生长深度,增加分叉,调配各组织器官的生物量来适应水盐胁迫;中水位0.9 m下土壤水盐条件最适宜柽柳生长;低水位（≥1.2 m）下柽柳主要受土壤干旱胁迫而使根系向下生长,增加根系连接长度,以此扩大资源获取效率。柽柳根系生长及根系构型对咸水矿化度下不同地下水位表现出较强的适应性和可塑性。     

水氮处理下不同品种水稻根系生长分布特征

为明确不同栽培条件下水稻(Oryza sativa)根系生长分布特征, 通过不同水氮处理和不同品种的水稻桶栽试验, 采用内置根架法, 于拔节期和抽穗期取样, 获取根系总干重(TRW)、不定根数(ARN)以及各类根(不定根、细分枝根和粗分枝根)的形态指标(长度、表面积和体积), 并分析植株根系生长状况和根系分布特征。结果显示: (1)各试验条件下抽穗期各项根系指标较拔节期均呈增长趋势。同一时期, 各项根系指标在3个施氮水平间均差异显著, 且随施氮量的增加而增加。不同水分处理下, 两个时期的ARN在湿润灌溉(W2)与保持水层(W1)之间差异均不显著, 而其他指标上W2处理均显著最高; 干旱处理 (W3)下, 仅拔节期的TRW和粗分枝形态指标与W1处理接近, 而在其他指标上均显著最低。不同品种间, ‘扬稻6号’ (V3)的各项根系指标均最高, 而‘日本晴’ (V1)和‘武香粳14’ (V2)间差异不显著。(2)各试验条件下, 抽穗期较拔节期根系下扎生长比例增加, 多分布于表层(0-5 cm)土中; 减少氮素和水分供应可提高根系在5 cm以下土层中的分布比例, 且分枝根反应最为明显; 品种V1和V2的深扎根性较V3明显。结果表明, 合理施氮与控水可优化水稻不同类型根的生长与分布特征, 但需考虑不同品种之间的差异。     

Root growth of potato crops on a marine-clay soil

Summary In 1982 and 1983 root samples were taken by auger from potato crops grown on marine clay in the Flevo-Polder. The roots increased their penetration depth throughout the periods of measurement, and ultimately reached depths between 80 cm and 100 cm below the hills. Between 50 and 60 days after emergence, decay of roots commenced, starting in the upper horizons. In the hill mean root length densities varied between 1 and 2 cm cm⁻³. Below the hills root density rarely exceeded 1 cm cm⁻³. The random variation in root density was equivalent to a coefficient of variation of 50%. There were significant effects of the position of sampling (relative to the centre of the plant) on root density; densities were usually lowest beneath the furrow. Depending on season and sampling date, total root length varied between 3.4 and 7.1 km m⁻², and root dry mass varied between 33 and 77 g m⁻². Representative figures for specific root length were 100–120 m g⁻¹ dry weight. About 90% of the root diameters were smaller than 0.44 mm; the most frequent class (35%) were roots with diameters between 0.12 and 0.20 mm.     

A technique for estimating fine root production in the forest ecosystems

Summary The soil-block technique was developed to estimate fine root production in forest ecosystems. This technique produced estimates similar to conventional soil coring but required less labor and reduced disturbance to the soil-root environment.     

Fine root growth and demographic responses to nutrient patches in four old-field plant species

Proliferation of roots in a nutrient patch can occur either as a result of an increase in root length (morphological response) or by a change in root birth or death rates (demographic responses). In this study we attempted to distinguish between these two mechanisms of response to nutrient patches and to compare the responses of four old-field plant species (two annuals, two perennials). For all four species combined, there were significant increases in root numbers and root length in fertilized patches. Root proliferation in fertilized patches was largely due to increased birth (=branching) rates of new roots. However, there was also a significant increase in root death rates in the fertilized patches which reduced the magnitude of the increase in net root numbers. Plots for individual species suggested they differed in the magnitude and timing of root proliferation in fertilized patches due to differences in root birth and death rates. However, because of the limited sample size in this study, there was only a marginally significant difference among species in root birth rates, and no difference in death rates. Further studies are currently underway to better quantify species differences in the demographic mechanism, as well as magnitude, of response to nutrient patches and if this would affect the ability to exploit small-scale heterogeneity in soil resources.     

Growth rate, root development and nutrient uptake of 55 plant species from the Great Plains Grasslands, USA

Empirical and theoretical studies have highlighted that plantcompetition and species diversity are substantially affected by interactionsamong plant growth and nutrient uptake rates, root lateral spread, rootplasticity, and small scale soil nutrient heterogeneity. This study wasdesignedto (a) experimentally estimate parameters regarding rootscaling patterns, root biomass allocation, growth rates, nutrient productivity,and root nutrient influx rates of 55 plant species common to Great Plainsgrasslands; and (b) determine if grasses and forbs can beclassified into statistically distinct groups based on these characteristics.Wefound that: (1) In all species root lateral spread, rootlength, and root surface area had significant allometric scaling relationshipswith root biomass, but that the relationships were unaffected by Navailability.(2) Reductions in the supply of N increased the root:shootratio in 62% of the species. (3) The frequency distributionandmean values of maximum relative growth rates were very similar for grasses andforbs/shrubs, but mid successional grasses had a higher relative growth ratethan late successional ones. (4) In 78% of the species tested,N productivity was increased by reductions in the N supply.(5)When subjected to a high N supply, the N and P productivity of grasses was, onaverage, higher than that of forbs/shrubs, and the N and P productivity ofC₄ grasses was, on average, higher than that of C₃grasses. No differences were found under a low N supply. (6)Nodifferences on the average maximum N and P influx rates per unit of rootsurfacearea were found between grasses and forbs or between C₃ andC₄ grasses, but both were correlated with maximum relative growthrate. (7) The set of parameters we measured were able toseparate grasses and forbs/shrubs into statistically distinct groups that tendto follow in broad terms the coarse vs. fine scaleforaging strategies hypothesis.     

棉花根系生长和空间分布特征

结合田间根钻取样和图像扫描分析方法, 研究了不同棉花品种根系的长度、直径和表面积动态及 0~ 10 0cm深和 0~ 4 0cm宽土壤范围内的空间分布特征。该方法与常规直尺测量结果相比相关系数R2 达到 0.899 (n =1318), 显示了较好的可靠性。研究结果表明, 棉花平均根长密度 (RLD) 在花铃期为 1.2 1~ 1.2 7mm·cm-3, 吐絮后降至 1.0 4~ 1.12mm·cm-3, 收花时为 0.76mm·cm-3 。棉花根平均直径在不同基因型间存在显著差异, 抗虫杂交棉的根直径最粗, 平均为 0.5 2mm ;早熟类型品种根直径较细, 平均为 0.36mm。在土壤深度上根直径的差异不显著, 但距棉行距离越远, 根的平均直径越小。在明确根系长度和直径动态规律的基础上, 提出了根表面积指数 (RAI) 的概念, 与地上部叶面积指数具有相似的含义和生物学意义, 且呈较好的指数相关关系 (R2 =0.779) 。RAI在生理发育时间 (PDT) 小于等于 4 0前, 其增长动态符合LOGISTIC生长规律 (R2 =0.84 9), 在PDT大于 4 0后, 呈线性递减趋势 (R2 =0.5 70~ 0.895 ), 且杂交抗虫棉的RAI在全生育期内均明显高于其它类型品种, 而早熟类型品种相对略低。RAI空间分布特征表现为, 开花前在浅根层内 (0~ 30cm) 分布最多, 花铃期以中层根系 (40~ 6 0cm) 为主, 吐絮后主要以深层 (70~ 10 0cm) 和距棉行较远的行间较多。研究结果为制定合理的施肥、灌溉措施提供了理论依据, 并量化了棉花根系的时空变化, 为进一步提高生长发育模拟模型的精度奠定了基础。     

Identification and characterization of a rhizosphere β-galactosidase from Pisum sativum L.

Plant enzyme activities in the rhizosphere potentially are a resource for improved plant nutrition, soil fertility, bioremediation, and disease resistance. Here we report that a border cell specific β-galactosidase is secreted into the acidic extracellular environment surrounding root tips of pea, as well as bean, alfalfa, barrel medic, sorghum, and maize. No enzyme activity was detected in radish and Arabidopsis, species that do not produce viable border cells. The secreted enzyme activity was inhibited by galactose and 2-phenylethyl 1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (PETG) at concentrations that altered root growth without causing cell death. A tomato galactanase encoding gene was used as a probe to isolate a full length pea cDNA clone (BRDgal1) from a root cap-border cell cDNA library. Southern blot analysis using full length BRDgal1 as a probe revealed 1–2 related sequences within the pea genome. BRDgal1 mRNA expression was analysed by whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and found to occur in the outermost peripheral layer of the cap and in suspensions of detached border cells. No expression was detected within the body of the root cap. Repeated efforts to develop viable hairy root clones expressing BRDgal1 antisense mRNA under the control of the CaMV35S promoter, whose expression in the root cap is limited to cells at the root cap periphery only during root emergence, were unsuccessful. These data suggest that altered expression of this enzyme is deleterious to early root development. The first two authors contributed equally to the completion of this project.     

Plant defensins and virally encoded fungal toxin KP4 inhibit plant root growth

Plant defensins are small, highly stable, cysteine-rich antimicrobial proteins that are thought to constitute an important component of plant defense against fungal pathogens. There are a number of such defensins expressed in various plant tissues with differing antifungal activity and spectrum. Relatively little is known about the modes of action and biological roles of these proteins. Our previous work on a virally encoded fungal toxin, KP4, from Ustilago maydis and subsequently with the plant defensin, MsDef1, from Medicago sativa demonstrated that some of these proteins specifically blocked calcium channels in both fungi and animals. The results presented here demonstrate that KP4 and three plant defensins, MsDef1, MtDef2, and RsAFP2, all inhibit root growth in germinating Arabidopsis seeds at low micromolar concentrations. We have previously demonstrated that a fusion protein composed of Rab GTPase (RabA4b) and enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) is dependent upon calcium gradients for localization to the tips of the growing root hairs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using this tip-localized fusion protein, we demonstrate that all four proteins rapidly depolarize the growing root hair and block growth in a reversible manner. This inhibitory activity on root and root hair is not directly correlated with the antifungal activity of these proteins and suggests that plants apparently express targets for these antifungal proteins. The data presented here suggest that plant defensins may have roles in regulating plant growth and development. A. Allen and A.K. Snyder contributed equally.     

Root growth as influenced by aggregate size

Summary This study examined the effects of aggregate size on root impedance and developed an equation to describe the root pressure necessary to avoid deflection around an aggregate. This critical root pressure was predicted to increase with increasing aggregate size, decreasing root diameter, and decreasing deflection angle. In growth chamber experiments, maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings were grown in A horizon material of Groseclose silt loam (Clayey, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludult). The soil had been moist sieved into different aggregate sizes (0–1, 1–2, 2–3, and 3–6 mm diameter). The larger aggregates did constitute a slight root impedance as roots were deflected around them. Diameters of roots grown in 3–6 mm aggregates increased significantly, whereas root lengths were not always signficantly decreased. The smaller aggregates did not impede root growth and were readily displaced by roots. Large aggregates were more of an impedance to lateral roots than to main axes.     

A microcomputer based method for the rapid and detailed measurement of seedling root systems

Summary A simple method for making detailed measurements of seedling root systems is described. Photocopies of root systems are traced over by an operator using a digitizing system attached to a microcomputer. The computer calculates and prints the lengths of axis, laterals and sublaterals for each root system. Accurate measurements can be achieved with a degree of speed and detail unobtainable by other methods.